Real Estate Blog - April, 2015

Finding Mold In Your Home

No one wants to find out they have mold in their home, it’s never good news, and yes, it is a big deal. Mold spores, especially black mold, can be very detrimental your health. If you have mold growing in your walls or flooring, spores can become air borne and find their way into your lungs.

Health issues

A variety of health issues can be cause from breathing in mold and it can be very dangerous for those with pre-existing conditions, like asthma. This is of particular concern for risk groups like infants, seniors and pregnant women.

What to do?

If you discover mold in your home, you have to have it removed. This is typically done by a professional mold removal business. They will remove any materials that have been ruined by the mold, which…

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Are timeshares still a thing?

Yes! They absolutely are, but the real question is: is it right for you? A timeshare can be a great asset and a guaranteed vacation every year. Timeshares work by splitting the cost of an often expensive property, in an idyllic setting, amongst multiple buyers (investors) and then breaking up the amount of time (and times of year) that each investor gets to spend enjoying the property.

The cons

Regardless of whether you are able to use the time you are allotted for your timeshare, you pay for it. Lots of people try to rent their timeshare spaces that they can’t utilize to friends and family, but it’s often difficult. If you have a hard time getting time off of work, or don’t have a lot of disposable income to invest, this may not be a good real…

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Are homeowner’s Associations for you?

Homeowner’s Associations can be a really great thing for a neighbourhood. Comprised of people who live in the neighbourhood, an HOA is in place to help neighbourhoods beautify their space and tackle important projects they may fall outside the responsibilities of the city. All of that considered, lots of people don’t like the idea of an HOA, and that when one exists, you are automatically a part of it when you purchase a home in a specified area. Why? Because there are fees.

How much?

This really depends on the association, the city, and the neighbourhood it takes care of. HOA dues are collected yearly (generally) and go toward things like painting fences that are in common public areas within the neighbourhood, maintaining an outdoor pool (if there…

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Brander Gardens Real Estate Listings Statistics

Brander Gardens Edmonton Homes For Sale Statistics (12 Listings)

Sold Listings - Brander Gardens Real Estate Listings Statistics (7 listings sold within 30 days)

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Demystifying Realtor Commissions

How Commission Fees Work

Lots of people think that real estate is a highly lucrative business from the realtor’s point of view, which can be attributed to television shows like Million Dollar Listing. The truth is that realtor’s work long and hard to earn their commissions, but it’s not as simple or glamorous as you may think.

Who pays?

Typically, the seller is the one who takes responsibility for the commission fees. Depending on your realtor, they can charge anywhere from 3.5% - 7% on the first $100 000 of your list prices, and then (typically) it drops to 3% on the remaining value of the list price. So if your listed for $150 000, your realtor would get $7000 for the first $100 000 and $1500 on the reminder for a total of $8500 in commission –…

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Has the Bubble Burst in Edmonton Real Estate?

With the massive plummet in oil pricing, the Edmonton real estate market is bound to see some backlash. Although it’s a relatively recent occurrence, many people have already lost their jobs and as a result the Edmonton real estate market has begun to cool off.

Can it Last?

Many economists believe that the energy sector is going to flounder for at least a year before seeing any type of recovery. While consumers are benefiting greatly from the low-prices at the pumps, many others have found themselves in the unemployment lines. There is no sure-fire way to say when prices will climb again, but it’s all about politics so the world news will be very telling. The Edmonton real estate market will change in tandem with the oil pricing.

The Good News

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Blue Quill Real Estate Listings Statistics

Blue Quill Edmonton Homes For Sale Statistics (14 Listings)

Sold Listings - Blue Quill Real Estate Listings Statistics (2 listing sold within 30 days)

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Enjoying the Local Sports Scene

Edmonton has some really great local sporting events that you can enjoy, whether or not you live here. It doesn’t have to be expensive to take advantage of these events either. Here are a few tips from taking in the local sports teams, without spending a fortune.

The NHL and the CFL

Edmonton is home to the Edmonton Oilers NHL team and the Edmonton Eskimos CFL team. From fall through to the spring you can take advantage of game watching live, without breaking the bank. How? Easy. Get online and search for last minute tickets. Sites like Kijiji often feature dozens of people trying to offload tickets the day before and the day of a game. You can snatch up tickets for deep discounts, and make a night of it. Snag an NHL ticket for less than $50 a…

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Blackmud Creek Real Estate Listings Statistics

Blackmud Creek Edmonton Homes For Sale Statistics

Sold Listings - Blackmud Creek Real Estate Listings Statistics ( 6 Listings Sold within 30 Days)

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What increases the value of your neighbourhood?

There are many things that can have a positive, or negative, impact on both the value of the homes in your area, and the desirability of your neighbourhood. Here are a few of the things that can increase value and desirability.

1. Walkability

The more accessible a neighbourhood is on foot, the more people will want to live there. This means groomed walking trails that link the neighbourhood and its amenities together.

2. Green space

Having lots of open grassy areas, play parks, dog parks and trees in a neighbourhood is important. Not only does it make the area more beautiful, but it attracts a wide variety of people. People want to live in pretty places, and having lots of accessible outdoor recreational areas is a part of that.

3.…

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